Kimsan said two victims came forward that morning followed by another two in the afternoon, adding that Chea had admitted to two of the rapes.

“The other girls, he just assaulted them by asking them to take off their clothes and let him touch them. But one 16-year-old said she has been raped multiple times since 2013. With every rape or assault, he gave them 20,000 to 30,000 riel ($5-7.50),” Kimsan said of Chea’s confession.

“The rapes took place at lunchtime when the girls left school to watch TV at his home.”

Kimsan said none of the victims are currently living with their parents, many of whom are away working in Poipet. It was the girls’ caretakers, mostly aunts and uncles, who alerted police to the assaults, he said.

A joint investigative taskforce has been established by the Phnom Penh-based Child Protection Unit (CPU) and National Police in Battambang to look into the alleged assaults.

“It is likely that more victims will come forward as this investigation progresses,” CPU director James McCabe said yesterday.

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